Premier League 2026 - Preview Night 7
Jonny Clayton hopes to extend his remarkable eight-point lead at the summit of the BetMGM Premier League standings as the competition returns to Dublin's 3Arena on Thursday.
Night Seven of the 2026 Premier League rolls into the Irish capital on March 19, as league leader Clayton aims to follow up his second nightly win of the season. The Welsh number one has started the campaign in rampant fashion, recording nightly wins in Glasgow and last week in Nottingham, whilst claiming victory in his opening quarter-finals on all six occasions this season.
The 51-year-old has resultantly accrued 19 points over the first six weeks, eight clear of second-placed Luke Litter, and doesn't plan on stopping there.
"Two nightly wins in the first six weeks, it's brilliant," beamed Clayton, who will face Luke Humphries in Dublin in a repeat of last week's final.
"I wasn't expecting to do so well, but it's happening. I'm looking for two points week-in, week-out, and anything else is a bonus.
"I love it. I'm top of the league and that's where I want to be! It's hard to catch the ones on top.
"I know that Luke will be coming out all guns blazing in Dublin as well, but my aim is to win two points. I don't care who I play against, I need two points on that board."
Humphries reached his first nightly final in Nottingham, accounting for impressive debutant Gian van Veen and then World Champion Luke Littler to ignite his campaign.
Despite being one of three players on nine points, the defending Premier League champion currently sits outside the Play-Off places, with Gerwyn Price and Van Veen in third and fourth respectively. Price fell short in a 6-5 thriller against Littler in their quarter-final tussle in Nottingham, but finished runner-up at the European Darts Trophy in Goettingen at the weekend to reinforce his stellar start to 2026.
Dublin has proved a fruitful hunting ground for the 41-year-old, who claimed the nightly win in the Irish capital in 2025 after toppling Littler, Humphries and Nathan Aspinall, also hitting a 170 checkout against the world number two.
"I'm in a good head-space," insisted Price, who will locks horns with the winless Josh Rock for a place in the semi-finals at the 3Arena.
"You need a little bit of luck along the way to win tournaments, and I haven't had that. If I'm playing well and losing, then fair play to the other player.
"If I just keep doing what I'm doing and enjoy the game, the wins will come."
Van Veen continues his pursuit of a first nightly win against Michael van Gerwen in the opening match of the evening, after the Dutch duo succumbed to quarter-final defeats against Humphries and Clayton respectively last week. After picking up eight points in the first two weeks, Van Gerwen has not tasted victory since finishing runner-up in Antwerp on Night Two, falling to sixth in the table - but only one point behind his Dutch counterpart.
The other quarter-final sees a reinvigorated Littler face Stephen Bunting, with the World Champion picking up seven points in the last two weeks after claiming his first nightly win in Cardiff. The 19-year-old's recent burst of form thrust him to second spot in the table, whilst Bunting sits in seventh after claiming his fourth win of the campaign with victory over Rock in Nottingham.
Ranking points will be awarded per night - with five to the winner, three to the runner-up and two to the semi-finalists - to form the league table from which the top four players will progress to Finals Night at The O2 in London on Thursday May 28.
The 2026 BetMGM Premier League is being broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK & Ireland, through the PDC's worldwide broadcast partners including DAZN and Viaplay, and on PDCTV for Rest of the World Subscribers (outside of the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria & Switzerland). 2026 BetMGM Premier League
Seventh Night's Quarterfinals:
Gian van Veen v Michael van Gerwen
Stephen Bunting v Luke Littler
Josh Rock v Gerwyn Price
Jonny Clayton v Luke Humphries
Night Seven of the 2026 Premier League rolls into the Irish capital on March 19, as league leader Clayton aims to follow up his second nightly win of the season. The Welsh number one has started the campaign in rampant fashion, recording nightly wins in Glasgow and last week in Nottingham, whilst claiming victory in his opening quarter-finals on all six occasions this season.
The 51-year-old has resultantly accrued 19 points over the first six weeks, eight clear of second-placed Luke Litter, and doesn't plan on stopping there.
"Two nightly wins in the first six weeks, it's brilliant," beamed Clayton, who will face Luke Humphries in Dublin in a repeat of last week's final.
"I wasn't expecting to do so well, but it's happening. I'm looking for two points week-in, week-out, and anything else is a bonus.
"I love it. I'm top of the league and that's where I want to be! It's hard to catch the ones on top.
"I know that Luke will be coming out all guns blazing in Dublin as well, but my aim is to win two points. I don't care who I play against, I need two points on that board."
Humphries reached his first nightly final in Nottingham, accounting for impressive debutant Gian van Veen and then World Champion Luke Littler to ignite his campaign.
Despite being one of three players on nine points, the defending Premier League champion currently sits outside the Play-Off places, with Gerwyn Price and Van Veen in third and fourth respectively. Price fell short in a 6-5 thriller against Littler in their quarter-final tussle in Nottingham, but finished runner-up at the European Darts Trophy in Goettingen at the weekend to reinforce his stellar start to 2026.
Dublin has proved a fruitful hunting ground for the 41-year-old, who claimed the nightly win in the Irish capital in 2025 after toppling Littler, Humphries and Nathan Aspinall, also hitting a 170 checkout against the world number two.
"I'm in a good head-space," insisted Price, who will locks horns with the winless Josh Rock for a place in the semi-finals at the 3Arena.
"You need a little bit of luck along the way to win tournaments, and I haven't had that. If I'm playing well and losing, then fair play to the other player.
"If I just keep doing what I'm doing and enjoy the game, the wins will come."
Van Veen continues his pursuit of a first nightly win against Michael van Gerwen in the opening match of the evening, after the Dutch duo succumbed to quarter-final defeats against Humphries and Clayton respectively last week. After picking up eight points in the first two weeks, Van Gerwen has not tasted victory since finishing runner-up in Antwerp on Night Two, falling to sixth in the table - but only one point behind his Dutch counterpart.
The other quarter-final sees a reinvigorated Littler face Stephen Bunting, with the World Champion picking up seven points in the last two weeks after claiming his first nightly win in Cardiff. The 19-year-old's recent burst of form thrust him to second spot in the table, whilst Bunting sits in seventh after claiming his fourth win of the campaign with victory over Rock in Nottingham.
Ranking points will be awarded per night - with five to the winner, three to the runner-up and two to the semi-finalists - to form the league table from which the top four players will progress to Finals Night at The O2 in London on Thursday May 28.
The 2026 BetMGM Premier League is being broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK & Ireland, through the PDC's worldwide broadcast partners including DAZN and Viaplay, and on PDCTV for Rest of the World Subscribers (outside of the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria & Switzerland). 2026 BetMGM Premier League
Seventh Night's Quarterfinals:
Gian van Veen v Michael van Gerwen
Stephen Bunting v Luke Littler
Josh Rock v Gerwyn Price
Jonny Clayton v Luke Humphries